Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1887-01-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular corresnondentl

uG week ) WOTK Ill SOIHlpSS Call DG
easily summarized, as the Senate was
in session only three days and the
House four. Besides n good deal of
other private legislation the Senate
pensioned the widow of General Logan
at So 900 year, secretly discussed the
Mexican Reciprocity treat, and debated
the important pending bill on Inter
state Commerce. The House passed
three of the neutrality-suspicious. bills,
several dozen private pension bills, and
discussed bills on the Public Buildings
and Naval Reorganization. But what
should be emphasized in the work of
Democratic House is the passage,with-
out opposition, and without any pro-
vision for Confederate soldiers, of
pension bill for the current year appro-
priating over 1000, 900.
This amount is nearly as much as
were the entire expenses of the Coy
ernment before the war, and it ought
to put the Republican ranterS Of the
last Presidential campaign to the blush,
if anything could. Democratic close.
fstedness, indeed. Wherein does it
consist
Senator Beck has by no means given
up his intention of pushing his bill to
prohibit members of Congress from act
| ing as attorneys for railroads which
| have received Government aid although
his long silence had led some of the
railroad Senators to hope that they
would not again be confronted by this
bugbear. 1t is sore trial for them to
have to face this dreadful measure,
especially since they know it is urged
forward by a practically unanimous
public sentiment. The debate on the
| Interstate Commerce bill is being long
drawn out in the Senate as a shield to
keep Mr.. Beck off, but even it must
| come to an end when all the speakers
have made their speeches for or against
| it.
It seems that the Revenue Reform
question is really coming to the front
now, and that another effort will be
made to reach those surplus millions.
This time It will be by the internal rev.
enue men, Mr.. Randall and his follow
ers. They will advocate that the whole
| of The tobacco tax be removed. that the
tax on alcohol used in the arts be a.
polished, and that fruit brandies be re-
| lieyed OF tax, but as to whether they
will attempt any Tariff alterations, no
one can predict. The members OF
| Congress from tobacco producing states
| feel that it is duty they owe their
constituents to vote for the repeal of
| the internal tax on tobacco III almost
anv shape that.lt might be presented.
These are exciting days for the Sen
ators whose terms expire on the fourth
| of March, and there are many lnilca-
| tions that the Senate will be much
changed after that time, but whether
or not it will be improved III character
or ability is an open q ieStlon. senator
| Conger. of Michigan, who has been In
| public life for thirty-two years, is to be
succeeded by Col. Stockbridge. because
| the latter is richer man. The long
bearded Republican millionaire from
Nevada, Mr.. w. NJ. Stewart. is coming
| back for another term. No one objects
! to- him, however, as he was rather a
lively man in the Senate, and having a
pretentous looking residence here,
takes q good deal of interest in the i'm
provemeut of Washington city.
1t is still doubtful who will get Gen.
LOgan's place, but Pennsylvania sends
Mr.. QUAY, q well-knowD boss and in
tYiguer, instead of Mr.. Mitchell and
Minnesota sends Ex-Governor Davis, a
tariff refofmef, writer of book on
Shakespeare, and sO-called orator in
place of Mr.. Mcmillan. Nebraska is
hesitating between a demagogue and Il
magnate and California is still i'll doubt
as are also New York, Massachusetts,
Tennessee, and other states.
AS to the present condition OF De-
mocracy and what it is doing, Gen.
Black, Commissioner Of Pensions. gives
a picture in recent letter TO Allen G..
Thurman, which is calculated to re-
j0ice the heart Of every one to whom
success IS dear. Slid he: a trium.
phant Democracy administers the ar
fairs of the Republic, Quietly but pos
itively the reforms that have long been
demanded by the people. so far as tEG
Administrative branch Of the Govern
ment is concerned, are in vigorous ef-
feet. Economy and law are the stand
ards of official action. Partisanship
does not throw its sword into the scales
of justice Submission to assessments
by public officials for partisan purposes
is not a condition Of public service.
Contracts are not given 20 the highest
partisan bidder and the public lands are
safe within the pale Of the statutes.
What more could be said III behalf of
the great party which has brought a
bout these things in the brief space of
twenty-five months ?